Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Homeownership in Waunakee can be satisfying for many people, but it also comes with its fair share of challenges. Home repairs can be an unexpected financial burden for many homeowners. A home warranty policy can help protect homebuyers and current homeowners by cutting the costs of major repairs and replacements on your home’s most important systems and appliances.
The home warranty market is saturated with many providers — all with different coverage — so the Today's Homeowner team has compiled this guide to help you choose the best home warranty companies in Waunakee.
Over 10 years of experience
24/7 customer service team
Home inspections aren’t required
90-day repair guarantee
Plans aren’t customizable
Customers can’t choose their own contractor
Not available in washington
Choice Home Warranty offers the best overall home warranty for Waunakee residents. Choice has been in the home warranty industry for over 15 years. If you’re looking for very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties. Choice has 2 simple plans, making the selection process easy.
The 2 plans from Choice Home Warranty are Basic Plan and Total Plan. Choice’s service fees are an affordable $85, and the coverage caps come out to around $3,000 for each covered appliance or system.
To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 929-400-6164. Read our Choice Home Warranty Review to learn more.
Basic Plan
Total Plan
The oldest and most trusted company in the industry
Allows customers to build their own plans
Ability to choose the service fee you want to pay
Broad coverage on up to 33 appliances and systems
Doesn’t let customers choose their own technician
Doesn’t provide coverage in alaska
American Home Shield offers the most customizable home warranty for Waunakee residents. AHS has been in the home warranty industry for over 26 years. If you’re looking for the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies. AHS has 3 simple plans, making the selection process easy.
The 3 plans from American Home Shield are ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. AHS’s service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125, and the coverage caps come out to around $2,500 for each covered appliance or system.
To get a free quote from American Home Shield, you can fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839. Read our American Home Shield Review to learn more.
ShieldSilver
ShieldGold
ShieldPlatinum
Offers home insurance deductible of $500
Extra long 180-day workmanship guarantee
Offers free cancellation in the first 30 days
Charges high service fees of $75-$150
Doesn’t allow customers to choose their own technician
Isn’t available in hawaii or alaska
Cinch Home Services offers the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee for Waunakee residents. Cinch has been in the home warranty industry for over 44 years. If you’re looking for a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind. Cinch has 3 simple plans, making the selection process easy.
The 3 plans from Cinch Home Services are Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan. Cinch’s service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150, and the coverage caps come out to around $1,000-$2,000 for each covered appliance or system.
To get a free quote from Cinch Home Services, you can fill out this online form or call 877-589-0505. Read our Cinch Home Services Review to learn more.
Appliances Plan
Built-in Systems Plan
Complete Home Plan
Policy starts in ten days
24/7 customer service support
Generous coverage caps on important systems and appliances
30-labor guarantee and 90-day parts guarantee
Offers utility and home service outside line coverage
Higher service fee of $95
Not accredited by the better business bureau (bbb)
Only 2 plan options
The Home Service Club offers the best home warranty with the quickest service for Waunakee residents. HSC has been in the home warranty industry for over 15 years. If you’re looking for quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it has customer service representatives available 24/7, as well as a 30-day labor guarantee and a 90-day parts guarantee. HSC has 2 simple plans, making the selection process easy.
The 2 plans from The Home Service Club are Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. HSC’s service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90, and the coverage caps come out to around $2,000 for each covered appliance or system.
To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, you can fill out this online form or call 800-750-9443. Read our The Home Service Club Review to learn more.
Standard Coverage Plan
Comprehensive Coverage Plan
Today's Homeowner looks at dozens of datapoints on home warranty companies to come up with our data-driven rankings. It's not possible for a company to pay for preferential treatment in our rankings. We look at the following key factors in determining who should top our list:
| Home Appliance | Repair Cost |
|---|---|
| Air Conditioner | $6,256 |
| Heating | $4,171 |
| Electrical | $626 |
| Toilets | $521 |
| Washer/Dryer | $834 |
| Plumbing | $626 |
| Oven | $1,668 |
| Fridge | $626 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that assists Waunakee homeowners cut the high costs of household repairs. These plans provide financial coverage to fix or swap out appliances and systems that stop working from normal wear and tear.
Homeowners file a claim and pay a service fee when something breaks. The home warranty company then arranges a contractor to make the fix or replacement. The only time you may pay out-of-pocket is if the cost of the repair or replacement goes over the item's coverage limit. A home warranty plan gives homeowners a sense of security since it can help avoid expensive emergency repairs. They can be especially helpful for people purchasing older homes or homes with systems near the end of their life span. However, newer homes with modern appliances and fixtures may not need a home warranty.
Home warranties protect your home systems and appliances. Common covered appliances are washers, refrigerators, dryers, dishwashers, microwaves, garbage disposals, and more. Included systems are normally heating, plumbing, air conditioning, and electrical. Many home warranty companies offer add-on coverage for septic systems, locksmiths, central vacuums, and roof leaks. Waunakee should understand that most home warranty plans have a 30-day waiting period before repair claims will be approved. The majority of policies also only cover repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include pre-existing conditions, cosmetic issues, natural disasters, or misusing a system or appliance. Stay current with preventative maintenance to ensure your next repair or replacement is covered.
Home warranty contracts use several terms that you'll want to learn before signing, such as:
There are several key considerations when selecting a home warranty provider:
Home warranties differ greatly in the items covered. Basic plans typically cover plumbing, AC, heating, electrical, and appliances, while more comprehensive options may also cover spas, pools, well pumps, and roof leaks. Look for providers with a range of coverage choices, such as upgraded plans. Flexibility helps you tailor your protection for your needs.
With any home warranty claim, you'll pay a repair fee that typically ranges between $60 and $100, which gets paid per repair request filed. The costs from multiple fees can add up. You may decide to look for providers with more affordable fees to maximize your savings on each claim. Some providers also offer disappearing deductibles if a homeowner doesn't submit claims for repairs for a specified period of time.
A home warranty provider's reputation can offer insight into things such as contractor quality, speed of repairs, approval rates for claims, and customer satisfaction. Look at third-party review sites such as Google Reviews, TrustPilot, or the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to research companies. Positive ratings and reviews indicate that a provider is known for top-tier service.
Home warranty providers use networks of local repair contractors to manage repairs in a given area. Reach out to potential businesses to ask how many repair technicians they have in Waunakee and get an idea of how quickly your repairs could be handled in an emergency. More extensive networks improve the probability of getting qualified contractors to quickly service your home.
Some home warranty companies include perks such as smart home device coverage, energy efficiency upgrades, and reduced maintenance fees. These extras can provide extra value beyond just repair coverage. Added bonuses let you enhance your home and get the most from your home warranty.
Since temperatures in Waunakee can be quite cold in the winter, the weather can put a lot of strain on your HVAC system. Buying a home warranty can help homeowners save money if one of these systems or appliances breaks suddenly.
Additionally, having a home warranty can save you time by eliminating the need to research service technicians — most providers will send a trusted professional right to your door to do the necessary repair or replacement. A home warranty can also provide value in other ways. For instance, some policies can be transferred between owners when you sell your home.
As for the downsides of home warranties, coverage varies by company, so it’s important to understand what each policy covers and doesn’t include in the contract.
Another stipulation is that home warranties typically only cover malfunctions due to normal wear and tear. They often won’t cover home systems or appliances that have stopped working due to improper maintenance, animal infestations, natural disasters, etc.
A home warranty in Waunakee can cost between $30 and $60 a month. The higher-priced plans typically have higher coverage limits, broader coverage, and a lower service fee. You can often lower this cost by paying annually instead of monthly. Some providers will also lower your up-front costs when you opt for a higher service fee.
The difference between a home warranty and homeowner's insurance lies in what kinds of damage each covers. A home warranty plan covers normal wear and tear to home systems and appliances. Homeowners insurance protects your entire home in case of something such as a natural disaster or fire. With homeowners insurance, you will not be able to file a claim should you need a new washing machine or oven, unless the damage is due to a natural disaster, which is somewhat common in Waunakee.
A home warranty plan can help investors, real estate agents, homeowners, homebuyers, and home sellers. It can offer peace of mind and savings to anyone involved with homeownership.
A home warranty will cover your appliances, systems, or both. Combination plans are beneficial if you'd like more coverage for your home, but a system- or appliance-only plan can be useful if you want to save some money.
Home warranty plans typically provide coverage for a year. Many providers let you renew your plan annually, and some offer month-to-month options as well.
Generally, the homeowner is responsible for paying the premium and service fees. However, if you have just bought a new home, sometimes the seller will pay for the policy. This can then be transferred to the new homeowner, who has to pay the service fees when using the policy. In Waunakee, where the median value of a home is $514,980, having the seller pay for the home warranty can be a good asset for your new home.
